Braiding-machine.



PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904.

J. D. BISHOP. BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23, 190s.

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N0 MODEL.

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J. D. BISHOP.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23, 1903.

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PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904. J. D. BISHOP.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

AYPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 2s, 190s. 6 SHEETS-SHEET a.

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BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

6 SHEETS-SHEET PATBNTED AUG. 16, 1904.

J. D. BISHOP. BRAIDING MACHINE. APPLIoATIoN FILED SEPT. z3, 1903.

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PATENTBD AUG. 16, 1904.

LD. BISHOP. BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 2s, 190s.

@fvwm/Lto@ IS fr OP UNITED STATES Patented August 16, 19041:.`

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES DRAPER BISHOP, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

BRAlDlNG-IVIACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0.\'76'7,3'76, dated August 16, 1904.

Application filed September 23, 1903. Serial No, 174,287. (No model.)

To ft/Z zoll/0111, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JAMES DRAPER BISHOP, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at New York city, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Braiding- Machines, of which the following' is a full,'

clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in braiding-machines, and has for its object to produce a simple and effective machine Vcapable of running at high Speed and free from many of the objections to which braiding-machines as now constructed are subject, as hereinafter pointed out.

The principal objects to be attained are as great speed of working as is possible and a certain and immediate stopping should one of the yarns or threads which are being braided come to an end or be broken. High speed'is generally obtained by gears connected with mechanism for the purpose ofcreating an intertwining movement of the bobbins carrying the yarn to be braided, as in the ordinary so-called waltzing machine. The stopping mechanism, technically known as the knock-out, is universally identical in principle and, broadly speaking', consists of threading the yarn through an arm which so long as the yarn remains intact is held out of the reach of a catch, but when the yarn comes to an end or parts is allowed to drop into such a position that it collides with a catch and drives it forward until the driving-gear is disconnected and, in some machines, a brake is applied. To perform these functions with certainty when working at a high speed, the various parts must be made of eXtra weight, and from this the centrifugal force produced fixes the limit of the working Speed.

-The knock-out mechanism also requires a y number of other parts, which produce complication, and as the contact of these parts when coperating is violent the life of the machine is thereby proportionately reduced and liability to accident increased. As a complete set of knock-out and other parts must be arranged for each bobbin the machine is constructed to carry and as some machines carry some sixty or more bobbins, the result is a mass of complication and multiplication of parts and gearing, all involving much wear and tear and from the friction created requiring very great power to drive. y

By my invention the objections mentioned are avoided, the number of working parts is greatly reduced, and lthe machine rendered more simple and durable, the stopping of the machine being brought about by electricity and the brake being inherent in the machine itself, so as to require no mechanical connection with the bobbins. The working parts can therefore be reduced to a minimum, and the speed attainable is practically limited only by the strength of the yarn employed.

The following is a description of a machine embodying my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a central Section of the machine, showing the principal parts. Figs. l and lb are detailed views showing the contactbrushes and conductors for establishing electrical contacts ,between moving parts. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig; 3 is a plan view with the upper table or frame partly broken away and the bobbin-carriers and guides being removed. Fig. 4 is a somewhat distorted side elevation of the upper bobbincarriers for the purpose of explaining the method of operation. Fig. 5 is a plan View of one of the bobbin-carriers. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on th'e line m of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a view of the bobbin-carrier Shown in Fig. 5, partly in longitudinal section and partly in side elevation. Fig. 8 is a view of a detail, showing the lower part of the ballbearing supporting one of the members. Fig. 9 is a diagram of electrical circuits.

Referring more particularly to the draw.- ings, l is a standard carrying a vertical tubular bearing or support 2. 3 is a tubular shaft surrounding this tubular bearing 2 and having at its lower end a bevel-gear 8 and supporting at its upper end a revolving table or frame 4..

5 is a disk having a circular groove for the bearing-balls 6, Which form a ball-bearing for the shaft 3. The disk 5 is supported by a lever 7 fulcrumed on the point 8 and having upturned projections fitting in recesses 9 of 100 the disk The lever 7 has an upturned end 10, against which bears a pin 11 upon the lever 12, which actuates the clutch member' 13 so as to bring' it into engagement with the other clutch member, 14, the lever 12 being' retracted by the spring 12. Upon the outside of the clutch member 13 is a belt 15, by which power is transmitted from some eonvenient source. To the clutch member 14 is connected the bevel-g'ear 16, which eng'ages with the bevel-gear 3, carried by the hollow shaft 3. The clutch is operated by the lever 12, which is pivotally mounted on the support carrying the journal for the shaft of the clutch member 13. The upper end of this lever 12 is provided with a handle and with bearing-surfaces engaging' with rings on the shaft of the clutch member 13 to move that shaft longitudinally. The lower end of the lever 12 is provided with a toothed rack 17, which is engaged by a detent 18, controlled by a lever 19. The end of the lever 19 is adapted to be engaged by a projection 20, mounted upon an armature 21. of the magnet 22. The spring' 21 normally retracts the armature 21 when the magnet 22 is denergized.

Surrounding the tubular shaft 3 is a second tubular shaft 23, having' at its lower end a bevel-gear 24, which is also engaged by the bevel-gear 16. The shaft 23 and gear 24 are supported by bearingeballs 24, which run in a groove in the supporting-base 24 At the upper end of the shaft 23 is a frame or table 25, which carries a set of bobbins 26, carried by spindles 26. From these bobbins 26 a thread 27 passes through a guide 72 on the member 73, hereinafter described, then through the guides 28 2829, being delivered by the guide 29 at a point substantially in line with the axis of the bobbin-holder 30, carried by the table or frame 4. This bobbin-holder 30 con.-

sists of two metallic end pieces 31 32, which have deep slots 31 32 and are coupled together by a shaft 33, of insulating' material, sliding within a tube 34, the shaft 33 having a locking-pin 35 engaging with the slot in said tube 34. A spring' 36 in the tubular part 34 bears against the end of the shaft 33. The bobbin 37 lits upon the tubular portion 34 and 'a bearing portion 38, forming parts of the end pieces 32 and 31, respectively. Above the bobbin-holder 30 is a guide 39 one end of which is pivotally mounted upon a pin 40, screwed into the end piece 31. The other end of the g'uide 39 is provided with extensions 41, which rest upon the periphery of the end vpiece 32 and are supported thereby. The two ends of the guide 39 are connected by a block of insulatingmaterial 42. The end 39 of the g'uide has connected to it by conducting-pins 43 the spring' contact-piece 44, over which the thread 45 from the bobbin 37 normally passes, thus holding' the contact member 44 out of engagement with the second contact member 46, carried by the inner end of the guide. The end of'the guide 39 carrying' the extension 41 is hinged at 41 and has a spring 41 acting' to keep the extension 41 in the position shown, its downward movement being' limited by a stop 411.

The bobbin-holders may be described as floating being supported upon the table or frame 4 by sprocket-wheels 47 48, and are kept from lateral movement by check sprocketwheels 49 49 and 50 50. The sprocket-wheels 49 and 50 are mounted on shafts, which are supported by bearings 49, secured to the table 4. The bobbin-holders are restrained from upward movement by studs 51 52, having revolving' heads 51l 52, which are revolubly mounted by screws 51 52 on said studs 51 52, secured to the frame 4, and bear against inclined flanges upon the heads 31 32 of the bobbin-holders, but do not extend so as to reach to the bottoms of the slots 31 32 and interfere with the threads therein. The sprocket-wheels 48 and 50 are insulated by insulating' material 48 50 from the shafts by which they are carried. The stud 52 is secured to the table 4 by the screw '54 and insulated therefrom by insulating material 55. The sprocket-wheels 47 and 48 are mounted upon the shaft 56, one end of which carries a'bevel-gear 57, which engages with a bevelgear 58, mounted upon the tubular bearing 2. This gear 58 is connected to the tubular bearing 2 by a spline 59, which acts to hold the gear against rotation and at the same time permits it to have a slight upward and downward movement. The spring' 60 bearing against the upper part of the hub of the gear 58 tends to keep itin a depressed position. The mandrel 61 or substance to be covered with the braid 62 passes through the opening' in the hollow bearing 2, dinary braiding-machine.

The two tables or frames4 and 25 are provided with frictional contactsurfaces 63 64,

'which when in engagement act as brakes to step the mechanism, as hereinafter described. The frame 4 carries a ring' of conductingmaterial 65, which is insulated from the frame by insulation 66. This ring' is electrically connected with the contact member 46 throug'h the contact-brush 48" bearing upon the sprocket 48, which in turn is in contact with the end piece 32, upon which bear the brush-like extensions 41. The brush 48lis connected to the ring 65 by an insulated conductor 48. Upon the ring' 65 bear brushes 67, carried by the frame 25, but insulated therefrom by insulation 67, These brushes 67 are electrically connected by an insulated conductor with a conducting-ring' 68, carried by the gear 24, but insulated therefrom by insulation 68. Upon the conducting-ring' 68 bears a brush 69, (supported by an insulatingpost,) which is connected to the windings of themagnet22, which is connected to one terminal of the battery 70, the other terminal being connected by the conas in the or- IOO TIO

IIS

d uctor 71 to the base 24b of the machine. The thread 27 from the bobbins 26, carried by the frame 25, as it leaves the bobbin passes through a guide 72 upon a spring contact member 73, normally holding said contact member out of engagement with the contact 74. The contact members 73 are all electrically connected to the base 24h of the machine through the shaft 23 and the balls 24". The contacts 74 are, however, insulated from the frame by insulating material 74a. They are, however, electrically connected by an insulated conductor with the ring 68, as shown in the diagram Fig. 9,which, as before explained, is electrically connected through the magnet 22 to terminal of the battery 70 by the conductor leading from the brush 69. A push-button 75 is also arranged so as to engage contact 76 when desired, thus forming a circuit through the magnet 22 and the battery 70 for the purpose hereinafter described, the result being the same as though contact were made between any one of the contact members 44 and 46 or 73 and 74.

The thread from the bobbin 37 passes through the guides 42 and 41 directly to the mandrel. The table4 carries guides 77, which coact with the guides 39 for causing the thread 27 to pass alternately over and under the bobbin-hold ers and the thread 45 supplied therefrom. Each of these guides 77 has a switch 78, which plays between studs 79 and 80,be ing'held against the former stud by gravity. The guide 39 is so balanced that by gravity and the friction of its supporting-stud it is held in contact with the guide 77, to the left thereof, (see Fig. 4,) always leaving the passage 81 between the right-hand end of the guide 39 and the guide 77 and passage 82 on the other side closed at the point 83 by the engagement of the guides 39 and 77. As the thread passes beneath one of the bobbin-carriers 304for instance, the middle bobbin-carrier shown in Fig. 4-it is delivered into the passage 81 and' passing through the same engaging the switch-arm 78. The switch-arm 78 is lifted by this engagement into the position shown at the righthand side of Fig'. 4, thus bridging over the passage 82 and compelling the thread to pass above the next guide 39. /Vhen the thread passes over this guide 39 and comes to the next succeeding passage 82, it finds that the switch arm 78 corresponding thereto has dropped back into engagement with the stop 79, leaving the passage 82 open, except for the engagement at the point 83, past which the thread can be easily forced.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The threads from the bobbin 37 after having been passed over the contact members 44, around the bobbin 37, and through the openings 42L and guide 41 are connected to the mandrel 61. The threads 27 from the bobbin 26 are then passed through the loops 72 on the contact members 73, around the bobbin-26, and through the guides 28 28L 29 and fastened on the mandrel 61, each alternate thread 27 being placed on top of one of the guides 39, while the other threads 27 are placed beneath the guides 39 and within the passages 82, as indicated in Fig. 2. The clutch members 13 and 14 .are then brought into engagement. This causes the gears 3L and 24, together with their respective frames 4 and 25, to be revolved in op-- posite directions. The revolution of the frame 25 should be such as to cause it to move to the left, as indicated by the arrow in'Fig. 4. The bobbin holders 30, by reason of the sprocket-wheels 47 48, mounted on the shafts 56, which are geared to the stationary gear 58, are caused to revolve synchronously in a counter-clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow thereon in Fig. 4. The threads 27 which are above the guide 39 slip over them, while the threads 27 which are below the guide 39 each pass from a passage 82 into one of the slots 31a upon the end 31 of the bobbin-holder 30 and into a corresponding slot 32a at the other end. The revolution of the bobbinholders carries the threads 27 which are in engagement with the slots 31a 32 beneath the bobbins 37 and beneath the threads 45 supplied therefrom. When one of the threads 27 has been carried beneath one of the threads 45, it is delivered into one of the passages 81, along which it passes until it engages the switch-arm 78, which it raises into the position shown at the right-'hand side of Fig. 4. It is thus caused to pass above the next succeeding guide 39. The continued revolution of the frames 4 and 25 in opposite directions therefore results in causing the threads 27 to pass alternately over and above each of the threads 45, resulting in the desired braiding.

In case one of the threads 27 breaks or comes to an end the contact 73 is permitted to make engagement with the contact 74, and in case one of the threads 45 breaks or comes to an end the contact 44 is permitted to engage with the contact 46. Vhenever this happens, the effect is the same as though the push-button 75 had been operated so as to engage the contact 76 -namely, a circuit is established through the magnet 22 and the battery 70, so that the magnet 22 attracts its armature 21. This causes the point 20 to disengage the lever 19, which then moves, so as to disengage the detent 18 from the rack 17. This permits the spring 12n to retract the lever 12, which separates the clutch members '13 and 14 and simultaneously moves the pin 11 away from the incline 10, lpermitting the inner end of the lever 7 to fall, together with the plate 5 and the shaft and gear 3 3.a and the parts mounted thereon. The spring causes the gear 58 to follow down along its spline, so as to remain in engagement with the gears 57. The lowering of the shaft 3, together with the frame 4 carried thereby, causes the friction-surfaces 63 to be` brought into engagement with the friction-surfaces 64,

with the result that a strong braking effect is produced and the two oppositely-revolving frames-i and 25 are immediately brought to a state of' rest. By this simple electrical means, therefore, a very efficient knockout is produced, operating whenever one of' the threads breaks or comes to an end and operating in such a way as to simultaneously disconnect the machine from the source of' power and apply an eilectual brake. The push-button 75 is operated whenever the operator desires to stop themachine on any occasion. IVhen the ends of the broken thread are tied together, the outer end of' the lever 7 can be depressed and the frame again put into operation. rlhe depressing' of the outer end of' the lever 7 raises or lifts the frame 4 and separates the circular friction-surfaces 63 64.

In taking out bobbins the end-s 3l 32 of the bobbin-holder are pressed toward one another against the resistance of' the spring 36 until one end is freed from the head 5l or 52a. The holder is then removed and the two ends separated, the spring' al permitting the guide 41 to be moved out of the way. rIhe new bobbin is then inserted and the holder replaced in a similar manner.

My invention admits of' various embodiments, and I do not wish to be understood as saying that it is limited to the embodiment shown, since various devices, the equivalents ofl those I have here shown and described, may be substituted without departing from the spirit and scope of' my invention.

NV hat I claim is l. In a braiding-machine, the combination of a series of' floating' bobbin-holders, bobb'ins carried thereby, a series of fast bobbin-holders and means for passing' the threads from said fast bobbin-holders over and under alternate floating bobbin-holders and means for giving said bobbin-holders a movement of axial rotation.

2. In a braiding-machine, the combination of' a` revolving' frame, floating' bobbin-holders mounted thereon, bobbins carried thereby, a second frame revolving in the opposite direction, fastbobbins mounted thereon, and guides for directing the threads from said fast bobbins over and under the alternate floating bobbins, said bobbin-holders having a movement of axial rotation.

3. In a braiding-machine, two frames revolving in opposite directions, and carrying the bobbins containing the yarn to be braided, friction-surfaces on said frames, and means for bringing said friction-surfaces into engagement.

4. In a braiding-machine,two frames revolving' in opposite directions, and carrying the bobbins containing the yarn to be braided, friction-surfaces on said frames, a driving' means for driving said frames and means for bringing said friction-surfaces into engagement, and simultaneously disconnecting said driving means.

5. In a braiding-machine, the combination ofl a trame, a series of' bobbins thereon, a second revolving` frame, aseries of bobbins, having threads passing from the same, electrical contacts carried by said revolving frame and held out of' engagement by said threads, a source of' electricity connected to said contacts forming a normally open circuit and means operated by said source upon engagement of said contacts when the thread breaks to stop the relative movement between said frames.

6. In a braiding-machine, the combination of a revolving' frame, a series of' bobbins carried thereby, a second revolving frame, two sets oi electrical contacts held out of' engagement by threads from the bobbins on said first revolving frame, a source of electricity having one of its terminals connected to one set of' said contacts and its other terminal connected to a conductor on said second revolving frame, forming a normally open electric circuit, means for connecting' said conductor to the other set ofl said contacts on said first frame and means in said electric circuit operating to stop said revolving frames whenever one pair of said contacts comes into engagement.

7. In a braiding-machine, two frames,1neans for revolving said frames in opposite directions, means tor raising and lowering one of said frames, friction-surfaces carried by said frame, brought into engagement when said frame is lowered.

8. In a braiding-machine, the combination ofl two frames revolving in opposite directions, means f'or moving one of' the said :trames longitudinally, friction-surfaces carried by said frames and brought into engagement when said frames are brought together by said longitudinal movement.

9. In a braiding-machine, the combination oi' a stationary support, a stationary gearwheel carried thereby, a revolving' frame, floating bobbin-holders carried thereby, gears meshing'respectively with said bobbin-holders and said stationary gear, and means for passing threads over and under said floating bobbin-holders alternately.

l0. In a braiding-machine, the combination of two frames revolving in opposite directions, bobbin-holders carried thereby, bobbins thereon, a shaft for driving said frames, electrical contact devices for each of said bobbin-holders controlled by the threads passing from said bobbins and means for disconnecting said frames 'from the said driving-shaft upon the engagement of' any one of the said contacts with its corresponding contact member.

ll. In abraiding-machine, the combination of two frames revolving in opposite directions, bobbins carried thereby, electrical contact devices for each of said bobbins controlled by IOO IIC

the threads passing therefrom and driving means and means for disconnecting said frames from said driving' means upon the engagement of any one of the said contacts with its corresponding contact member, and means for simultaneously braking said revolving frames.

12. Inabraiding-machine, the combination of two frames provided withfriction-surfaces and revolving' in opposite directions, bobbins carried thereby. electrical contact devices for each of said bobbins controlled by the threads passing therefrom and driving means and means for disconnectingsaid frames from the driving means upon the engagement of any one of the said contacts with its corresponding contact member, and means for simultaneously bringing' into engagement the 'friction-surfaces on said revolving frames.

13. Inabraiding-machine, the combination of two frames revolving in opposite directions, curved friction-surfaces on each of said frames adapted to be brought into engagement by the longitudinal movement of one of said frames and means for longitudinally moving' one of the said frames.

14. In abraiding-machine, the combination of two frames revolving in opposite directions, curved friction-surfaces on each of said frames adapted to be brought into engagement by theloweringof one of said frames, and means for lowering' one of the said frames, said means being electrically controlled by contacts controlled by the threads to be braided.

l5. In a braiding-machine, the combination of two frames revolving in opposite directions, friction-surfaces on said frames adapted to be brought into engagement, a lever for raising the upper of said frames and means for automatically disengaging said lever upon the breaking of any one of the threads to be braided.

16. In a braiding-machine, the combination of two frames revolving in opposite directions, friction-surfaces on said frames adapted to be brought into engagement, a lever for raising the upper of said frames and means for automatically disengaging said lever upon the breaking of any one of the threads to be braided, driving mechanism and a clutch controlled by said means for simultaneously disconnecting said frames from the said driving' mechanism.

.means for electrically connecting said brush with said source of current and in circuit with said electromagnetic controlling device.

18. In a braiding-machine the combination of two series of bobbin-holders and bobbins movable in opposite directions, the bobbinholders of one of said series having peripheral slots for receiving the threads from the bobbins of the other series, and means for holding said slotted bobbin-holders in position and causing them to revolve on their aXes without interfering with said threads.

19. In a braiding-machine the combination of two series of bobbin-holders and bobbins movable in opposite directions, the bobbinholders of one of said series having peripheral slots for receiving the threads from the bobbins of the other series, and means for holding said slotted bobbin-holders in position and causing' them to revolve on their aXes without interfering with said threads and guides for leading said threads to and away from said slots.

20. In a braiding-machine the combination of two series of bobbin-holders and bobbins movable in opposite directions, the bobbinholders of one of said series having peripheral slots for receiving the threads from the bobbins of the other' series. and means for holding said slotted bobbin-h olders in position and causing them to revolve on their axes without interfering with said threads, guides for causing each thread to engage the slots of alternate bobbin-holders and pass over the intermediate bobbin-holders.

JAMES DRAIER BISHOP.

Witnesses:

H. B. BROWNELL, L. VREELAND. 

